Bruins Recap - Week Ending October 26th, 2025: Losing streak snapped

(Photo Credit: Boston Bruins via X)

Since returning home from a winless road trip, the Bruins regulation losing streak extended from four games to six after losses to the Florida Panthers, and Anaheim Ducks, before finally getting back in the win column against the Colorado Avalanche.

In Boston's 4-3 and 7-5 losses to Florida and Anaheim respectively - it was much of the same story as it was in their losses to Tampa Bay, Vegas, and Utah where the Bruins found themselves in multiple goal deficits, and, or, were unable to maintain and extend leads.

The week started as an emotional one as Brad Marchand returned to Boston for the first time as a *playing member of the Florida Panthers - the Bruins former captain returned to TD Garden last season just after being traded but was still injured and did not play.

And while it was a memorable reunion for both Marchand, his former teammates, staff, and the fans in attendance, Boston themselves got off to a slow start falling behind 2-0 heading into the 3rd period.

Fortunately, Pavel Zacha and the 2nd line scored early in the final frame to give the Bruins some life, and then an Elias Lindholm power play goal tied the game shortly thereafter.

Eetu Luostarinen regained the Panthers lead thanks to Marchand's 2nd assist of the game, and lost coverage in the neutral zone from Mason Lohrei.

But once again, Boston showed resilience and tied the game again, this time it was Morgan Geekie with the goalie pulled.

One would think this one was bound for overtime, and Boston would have a decent chance of ending their losing streak, right?

Wrong.

They once again allowed a goal directly after scoring one themselves.

Now was it a fluke goal?

Absolutely.

Carter Verhaeghe hit the post and the puck bounced into the slot where Andrew Peeke swung and missed on a clearing attempt causing the puck to bounce off his leg and backward into the net.

But why was Verhaeghe, a proven goal scorer, allowed to walk right in on an odd man rush, and get a high danger slot shot off under those circumstances?

It was a bad luck goal, stemming from poor coverage, situational awareness and execution.

Against Anaheim, the Bruins outplayed the Ducks for most of the game outshooting them 42-30.

Boston even scored the games first goal when Casey Mittelstadt cashed in a rebound off of a Pavel Zacha shot in transition.

Minutes later, sloppy defensive zone coverage allowed Drew Helleson to skate in from the right point virtually uncontested and fire a shot in off of Charlie McAvoy's leg to tie the game.

Morgan Geekie gave Boston a 2-1 lead firing home an incredible quick, and accurate release from slot off a pass from David Pastrnak entering the attacking zone.

But stop me if you've heard this one before, the Bruins allowed a goal right after scoring .. again - this has been a theme throughout the young season so far for the Bruins and it's not the sign of a good team.

Hopefully they can correct that going forward, and without spoiling the next game, may have finally gotten off to a start in doing so.

But in this game, it was Cutter Gautier tying the game for Anaheim off of a heavy wrist shot from the high slot, that frankly shouldn't have gone in and definitely one Korpisalo needs to stop.

Stick taps to Tanner Jeannot, and Ross Johnston for having a good old fashioned heavy weight tilt to try and spark their teams.

Jacob Trouba gave the Ducks their first lead minutes later off of another squeaker let in by Korpisalo.

Jeffrey Viel probably didn't love watching the tape back on that one since Trouba was his guy but that shot, from that angle should be a save every time.

Mason Lohrei tied the game on the power play with a quick shot from the point and the teams headed into the 3rd period tied 3-3.

Anaheim would then score twice in the first eight minutes of the 3rd, once again putting Boston in a multiple goal deficit as was the case in losses to Tampa Bay, Vegas, and Florida.

But similar to those games, Boston fought back scoring twice in 25 seconds with just over five minutes remaining to tie the game late on goals from Pastrnak, and again, Geekie.

But wait a minute.

The Bruins scored?

That means they're due to give up a goal right back again, right?

Yes, that's unfortunately right.

Just one minute later, Troy Terry regained the lead after more defensive zone miscommunication - this time between Lohrei, and McAvoy who both overcommitted to the puck carrier leaving a man open in front.

As a spectator, it's tough to tell sometimes when the Bruins are supposed to be in zone coverage or man-on-man in the defensive zone because it seems the players themselves don't even know which they're supposed to be playing at times.

Clearly there is still some getting used to Marco Sturm's defensive system - and it's getting too late for players to still be making game costing mental errors.

The result was another regulation loss where players and coaches admitted embarrassment afterwards in post game availabilities.

With the Colorado Avalanche on the horizon, Boston would now have to beat the league's best team so far this year - the same team that dominated the Bruins last week in Denver - if they wanted to get back in the win column.

No easy feat, but that's exactly what Boston did on Saturday afternoon.

Colorado jumped out to an early lead - again off of poor defensive zone coverage by the Bruins with a newly formed McAvoy and Nikita Zadorov pairing on the ice and overcommitting down low - and then the Avalanche completely outplayed Boston for the first 15 minutes of play.

Now yes, Colorado has more speed and skill than the Bruins, but Boston also seemed to be playing tight and afraid to make mistakes - feeling the weight of their losing streak, no doubt.

They were puck watching, and spectating rather than playing on their toes.

But then the Bruins got a break.

Viktor Arvidsson scored his first goal as a Bruin off of a bank shot from behind the net to tie the game 1-1, which brought life back into both the team, and the home crowd.

Seconds later it was Michael Eyssimont giving Boston a 2-1 lead off of a well executed 2-on-1 with Jeannot who creatively set Eyssimont up on a platter with a forehand to backhand pass across.

But could they finally hold onto, and or extend a lead?

The only time Boston had extended leads so far this year were in 3-1 wins over Washington, and Buffalo where each two goal cushion came off of an empty net goal with the opponents' goalie pulled.

The Bruins had yet to extend a lead at even strength - until Saturday.

That's right.

In the dying seconds of the 2nd period, Morgan Geekie caught both Josh Manson, and Mackenzie Blackwood sleeping on a forecheck and tucked home a shot inside the right post from behind the net.

An absolute back breaking goal for the Avalanche to give up that late in a period.

Still, Colorado was more than capable of scoring two, three, or four goals in a period and to Boston's credit they held on for the win.

The Avalanche did make it interesting and pull within one with 20 seconds remaining - but the Bruins were determined to on hold on to the lead and the win.

So three weeks into the season, the Bruins find themselves with a record of 4-6-0 through 10 games.

They're 7th in the Atlantic Division - 4th in the league in goals for, 30th in goals against, 24th in goal differential, 19th in PP%, and 7th in PK%.

Both special teams units are improved so far from last year, the penalty kill in particular.

The Power Play still has room for improvement.

But the numbers that jump out are Boston's goals for and against so far.

The Bruins offense being 4th in the NHL right now is surprising and unlikely sustainable.

But their defense being 30th is also a bit surprising despite last year's struggles.

Marco Sturm is a responsible and detail oriented coach, and it was anticipated that his team if nothing else would be solid defensively.

Of course Hampus Lindholm being out of the lineup for Boston continues to be a major loss, but it's clear that the team is still grasping its new systems.

It would be surprising if the Bruins season ends with these offensive and defensive metrics being the same or near the same.

They're offense may cool off because while they're secondary scoring has been present so far, it maintaining is the question.

Simultaneously, they're team defense will likely improve as time goes on and new systems are better understood and executed.

Going forward, Boston has some winnable games on their schedule to close out October.

They visit Ottawa who continues to be without Brady Tkachuk - in fact, the Bruins play the Senators three times over the next three weeks - all of which Tkachuk is expected to miss.

Then Boston comes home for games against the New York Islanders, and a team in which the Bruins have already defeated this year in the Buffalo Sabres.

So as ugly as Boston's six game regulation losing streak was - they have a chance to finish the month with a winning record if they can sweep their remaining games.

And after a hard fought win against a high powered Avalanche team - perhaps the Bruins can play with more confidence after finally putting an end to a painful losing streak.